Avoid limiting your company’s hiring ability, or worse, failing at hosting a virtual job fair. Knowing how to set up and run a successful job fair will help you attract and hire the most qualified people for the correct positions.
webcastingandvirtualevents.com gathered the following information on what a virtual job fair is, choosing the right online platform, planning your job fair, and Promoting it.
What Is a Virtual Job Fair?
Virtual job fairs are almost identical to in-person ones but with added perks. Using online event hosts, organizations can create an online virtual space where interested candidates can interact with recruiters, chat with other candidates, and attend presentations.
Many job fair platforms allow the hosting company to fully customize the look and feel of the site. Another benefit of using a virtual space is the ability to post informational videos, documents, and even job application links, allowing candidates to immediately apply.
One of the greatest benefits of hosting an online job fair is the capacity to reach a wider audience. With an in-person fair, your audience is limited to candidates in the immediate area. Whereas, a virtual fair allows you to communicate with candidates worldwide that are interested in your company and open positions.
Candidates can speak directly with your company’s recruiters and decide whether to apply for a position or not. Virtual job fairs are ideal for those candidates wishing to relocate or for those whose schedule restricts them from traveling for an in-person recruiting experience.
Choose a Virtual Career Fair Platform
While hosting a virtual job fair may seem like a daunting and complicated task, one of the first things to do is research and select the online platform that best fits your company’s profile. Consider the following platforms:
Talentspace – This platform allows talent engagement with customized features like one-on-one chats, booths, and more. talentspace.io
VidCruiter – This is an efficient and user-friendly platform. You will have a dedicated account manager and unlimited training. Some platform features include pre-recorded video interviews, automated scheduling, and more. vidcruiter.com
Brazen – This is an easy-to-use platform. The platform offers an experience with events, including live presentations, one-on-one video, audio or text chats, and much more. brazen.com
Hopin – With a user-friendly customizable layout, Hopin virtually connects employers and job seekers who can attend panels, visit information booths, engage with recruiters, and apply for the desired position. hopin.com
Criteria used to evaluate potential platforms include:
- Level of customization
- Ease of use
- Data security
- CRM integration capability,
- Metrics and reporting abilities
- Customer service and assistance
Such platforms an excellent way for companies to continue hiring during COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, but they also seamlessly expedite the hiring process while maintaining recruitment costs low.
Develop a Virtual Job Fair Budget
When developing a virtual job fair budget, you must keep in mind that the cost of virtual events fluctuates with variables like the number of registrants, sponsorship participation and levels, the number of events attendees participate in, and the overall scope of the event. Event costs can range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more for a single event.
Note: The more immense your event is, the more resources you will have to invest in its marketing and staffing.
Define Your Virtual Job Fair Strategy
Develop an effective strategy covering the basics of your job fair and establishing goals for your event. This is crucial to your success as an event host. Consider the following:
Dates – Establish the best date(s) possible to hold your job fair, providing your team with at least a three-month window to plan and strategize.
Content – Plan, schedule, and coordinate time for content creation, including video, images, text, etc.
Scope – You will have to decide on the number of participating companies and what they will require from and contribute to your event.
Goals – Set goals and milestones for tasks, expenses, and expected attendance to attract participating companies and sponsors.
Note: With a dynamic platform, you can still benefit when your planning and strategy fall short by adding booths or extending streaming capacity.
Your Virtual Job Fair Booth
You may be asking what should be available in your virtual career booth. Here is a list of necessities:
- List of open positions
- Downloadable company information and benefits
- Company locations map
- Current news and stock information
- Relevant departmental videos
Tip: Staff your booth with knowledgeable representatives throughout the time your event is live.
Launch Your Job Fair
Now that you’ve invested your time and resources, it is time to launch your event. If your chosen platform permits access to a resource center, make sure it is stocked with downloadable content from your company and the job fair.
Hosting a Virtual Job Fair
In this article, you discovered information and tips on planning and running a successful virtual job fair to help you attract and recruit the most qualified candidates for your company.
Hosting a successful virtual job fair will help you increase your brand awareness, broaden your networking, and flesh out the most qualified candidates in their respective fields.
Relying on only old-fashioned hiring tactics can leave you with a limited selection of candidates and increased hiring costs.
Sources:
careerservices.wvu.edu/employers/plan-your-campus-visit/virtual-career-fair-checklist
careers.bloch.umkc.edu/blog/2021/09/23/how-to-run-a-virtual-career-fair-or-info-session/
